Japan to get 3D PlayStation 3 content June 10

Tue 01 Jun 2010 8:55am GMT / 4:55am EDT / 1:55am PDT
GamesHardware

WipEout and Super Stardust free, Pain to cost for 3D update

Sony Computer Entertainment

Sony Computer Entertainment is a Japanese videogame company specialising in a variety of areas in the...

playstation.com

Sony will launch its first 3D-enabled games for PlayStation 3 on June 10 in Japan.

WipEout HD, Super Stardust HD and Pain will be the first games to officially receive the 3D treatment, which requires a 3D-capable television and powered stereoscopic glasses.

WipEout and Stardust will receive free updates, while Pain will require a ¥300 ($3.20) paid upgrade. It remains to be seen which of these business models Sony will pursue for future 3D updates.

The June 10 release is currently for Japan only, though Sony has told gaming blog Kotaku that details of the North America and European launch will come "shortly." It is possible this will be part of Sony's E3 reveal later this month.

The Japanese release is timed to coincide with the arrival of Sony's first 3D-enabled Bravia TVs. For a short period, purchasers of an LX900, HX900 or HX800-series Bravia will be given a code entitling them to free downloads of the 3D launch titles, as well as early access to the demo of 3D Motorstorm 2.

It is unlikely that the first wave of 3D games will require a signficiant new firmware update, as Sony has previously readied PS3s for stereoscopic 3D with April's 3.30 firmware.

Sony will also be further updating its console to support playback of 3D Blu-ray movies (3DBD) later this year, according to online reports.

5 Comments

Terence Gage
Freelance writer

I will be interested to see how this pans out (and I'm sure Digital Foundry will be doing plenty of analyses over the coming weeks and months), but I'm just not sure how quick the uptake of very expensive 3D TVs is going to be. I don't think it will convert a lot of people to buying PS3s, and will probably end up as more of a bullet point and/or something to use in the inevitable PS360 fanboy arguments.

Myself, having just bought a HD Bravia a couple of years ago, I'm probably not going to want to upgrade my TV again for a good few years yet.

Posted:2 years ago

#1

Doug Paras

3 or $4000 for a 3D TV just seems to tell me not alot of people will be picking these up anytime soon.

Posted:2 years ago

#2

Haven Tso
Web-based Game Reviewer

Same here. I think at this point it is still more a gimmick and it is too expensive for mass adoption in the market. I think Sony just wants to be a step ahead technology wise. And to be honest, I don't fancy playing games in hideous classes. LOL

Posted:2 years ago

#3

Bonobo Mankini
Studying HND Game Design

Staffordshire University

Cool I guess. In 6 years no-glasses 3D might be available at reasonable prices for the PS4 and 720? I can wait 6 years for such epicness. I have HD now. But couldn't this be used to trick people into thinking they are going to be hit by a lorry?

Posted:2 years ago

#4

Dean Mitchell
Studying DEVELOPER COURSE

Train2Game

I think that once Sony start pushing the 3D Blu-Ray market more, this is when we will see an uptake in 3D content for our games. 3D is doing well in the Cinemas and the more people are seeing what 3D really can achieve, the quicker the market will grow.

I have not heard someone yet come out of a 3D film and say that the 3D was no good. It is the way forward, and I know that Samsung have jumped in here first with the 3D TV and 3D Blu-Ray player, hopefully that will be healthy competition enough for Sony to think about their slightly high prices (don't get me wrong, you can't beat their quality!). A bit like Apple and the iPad, each version is £100 over what it should be! (just an example!)

Posted:2 years ago

#5

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